Manchester's Own Airline
Going back several years ago, I seem to recall in a newspaper interview with a former Chief executive those name I cannot be certain off but it may have been Gil Thompson. In this interview it was mentioned that the airport board had looked into the possibility of setting up it's own presumably Manchester based airline. From what I remember, know reasons were given in the interview as to why the airport board did not pursue this idea any further.
I bring this up because in view of recent airline decisions I wonder weather it may be appropriate to look at the issue again. Would it not be better for the rate payers of Manchester and it's ten boroughs to invest in it's own airline rather than trying to buy all or part of Gatwick.